I will tell a scary tale here about the dangers of fireworks, from first-hand experience I was too rattled last nite to relate.
As I was driving home, looking forward to a cozy evening by the fire, and the traditional Texas new years meal of black-eyed peas, ham-hocks and corn bread, and was coming up the hill just a wee bit from our house, I see a large and frightening patch of scorched earth, and several streams of fire spreading quickly!!! No fire trucks in sight, but a sheriff's deputy and precinct judge who's a neighbor standing and watching in trepidation.
Taking out my reporter's notebook and camera, I began to record the proceedings. Luckily, within minutes, the firemen arrived and began fighting the pockets, as the flames came dangerously close to several cedar brakes. My friend from a rival paper was on scene as a fireman, and I was glad to see him there, as well as several others I knew. Luckily, it was extinguished ... after nightfall, we went out again to see if things were calm, as the winds had picked up during the evening.
There were just a few bursts of local kids shooting some fireworks, but I think that the sight of several scorched acres of land, so close to becoming a major catastrophe, sobered a lot of folks in the neighborhood, thank the Lord! But I'll tell you, it was very very dramatic for me. I even scorched my own shoes, trying to stomp out a few flareups, it made me so nervous.
